The following terms have been used to index the description of this
collection in the Library's online catalog. They are grouped by name of person
or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed
alphabetically therein.

The papers of Stephen C. Rowan, naval officer, were deposited in the
Library of Congress by the Naval Historical Foundation in 1969 and converted to
a gift in 1998.

Processing History

The papers of Stephen C. Rowan were arranged and described in 1971.
The collection was expanded and revised in 1999. The finding aid was revised in
2008.

Copyright Status

The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of Stephen C.
Rowan is governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17,
U.S.C.).

Access and Restrictions

The papers of Stephen C. Rowan are open to research. Researchers are
advised to contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many
collections are stored off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these
items for research use.

The papers of Stephen Clegg Rowan (1808-1890) span the years
1826-1890, with the bulk of the items dated from 1841 to 1870. The collection
consists of three journals and a letterbook.

The first journal, which Rowan kept on board the Vincennes, 1826-1828, describes cities, villages,
people, and customs in South America and Tahiti. A journal kept on the
Delaware, 1841-1843, recounts experiences in South
America and Italy and contains abstracts of the ship's cruises. In the third
journal, Rowan related his service in battles off the coast of California
during the Mexican War, made general observations about the United States
before the Civil War, and discussed cities, people, and customs in Asia. The
latter volume also contains abstracts of cruises and logs for the
Cyane, Dale,
Malec Adhel, and Relief.

The letterbook contains notes on Rowan's service in the navy and
copies of orders to duty and letters sent. The letters document his
participation in battles off the North Carolina sounds and in Charleston
harbor. Recipients include Ambrose Everett Burnside, Salmon P. Chase, John
Adolphus Bernard Dahlgren, James C. Dobbin, Gustavus V. Fox, Louis Malesherbes
Goldsborough, David Porter, Robert W. Shufeldt, Isaac Toucey, Gideon Welles,
and William C. Whitney.